Stevensville school designation ‘not one to go to the mat for’

While reminding his fellow councillors that protection of Fort Erie’s built history is a part of its strategic plan, Mayor Wayne Redekop admitted one potential heritage designation in town might not be worth the fight.

And most of his colleagues around the horseshoe agreed Monday night as they turned down a recommendation to designate an Eagle Street schoolhouse-turned-home as a heritage building.

“I’m not satisfied that this is one of the ones that we should be going to the mat for,” Redekop said, arguing that from his perspective some of the heritage features of the building haven’t been maintained and may not be worth preserving with a designation.

However, he did tell councillors that they have to be prepared to make decisions that may rankle a property owner to ensure the town’s history is preserved.

“If we value the built heritage of this community then we have to take some steps at some point where we say ‘this is going to be designated.’” Redekop said.

The owners of the property opposed having their home designated for a variety of reasons, primarily over fears of how it could hamper future alterations or modifications, a town staff report said.

They also worried about potential financial burdens, though Redekop pointed out there are town programs in place that can help and fears over insurance premiums are overblown.

“Despite this, the owners demonstrated a clear respect for the heritage value of the property, which was a significant factor in their original decision to purchase the home,” the staff report on the potential designation said.

There has been some hesitancy among councillors, in the past and in the case of the Eagle Street property, to slap a heritage designation on a property where there’s opposition from the owners.

Councillor Ann-Marie Noyes has been among the most vocal in this respect, and opposed designating this property. However, her reasoning in this case expanded beyond that, saying she thought there was limited heritage value and uniqueness to the property.

“The history of the house is actually more important than the building, in my estimation,” she said, suggesting the town instead consider putting up a plaque that explains the history of the schoolhouse.

According to the staff report, the building “is a representative example of a 19th-century schoolhouse constructed in the Italianate architectural style.”

The front gable roof with deep overhanging eaves, red brick construction, a balanced three-bay façade and side elevations, rounded arch window openings and stone sills are all important characteristics of the style, the report said.

Councillor Nick Dubanow spoke in favour of designation and argued councillors should look at these applications based on the merits of the heritage aspects. He asserted that protecting built heritage is no different than protecting natural heritage, which often gets stronger support from councillors.

“It ties us to our past, ties us to what our community was and holds us to where we’re going in the future,” he said.

While the Eagle Street property won’t be designated, councillors did approve another property for designation, supporting a recommendation to make 400 Central Avenue a heritage property. It’s owned by the town, is home to the Fort Erie Railway Museum and contains two relocated train stations.

“(It) contains a representative example of an early 20th-century train station design, known as the Ridgeway Train Station,” the report said.

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